Penn State in the NFL: Week 13

Story posted December 9, 2020 in CommRadio, Sports by Jonathan Draeger

Week 13 of the NFL provided some intense action for Nittany Lions alumni. Former Penn State players stepped onto the gridiron for another week of football, as some players continue the push to secure playoff spots for their respective teams.

Starting in the Windy City, Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson led the team with 75 receiving yards and six catches. On the other sideline, Detroit Lions tight end Jesse James caught just one ball, which happened to be a 9-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Moving to Nashville, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones had a quiet day, as the Tennessee Titans fell to the Cleveland Browns 41-35. Jones managed to record three tackles for the day, with two of them being assisted.

Tight end Mike Gesicki scored the only touchdown for the Miami Dolphins, as they continue to push for a spot in the AFC playoff picture. Gesicki led all receivers with 88 yards on nine catches in Miami’s 19-7 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Over in the desert, Los Angeles Rams defensive back Nick Scott only one tackle for Sean McVay’s team. Scott and the Rams would win the game against the Arizona Cardinals 38-28, gaining ground in the race for first place in the NFC West.

Staying in the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks lost to the New York Giants 17-12. Giants linebacker Cam Brown and defensive tackle Austin Johnson saw significant minutes on the field, as Johnson recorded one tackle while Brown had two.

Along with the Giants in the NFC East, Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders shared snaps with multiple players in the run game, limiting his numbers to 31 rushing yards on 10 carries. Adrian Amos, safety for the Green Bay Packers, made four tackles in the open field, as his team defeated the Eagles 30-16.

For the Sunday Night game between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, Broncos receiver KJ Hamler showed out for John Elway’s club. Hamler was utilized on the ground and through the air, racking up two catches for 16 yards and rushing for 13 yards on two carries. Denver would end up losing 22-16.

Two former Nittany Lions faced off in the Steel City, as safety Troy Apke of the Washington Football Team handed linebacker Marcus Allen and the Pittsburgh Steelers their first loss of the season with a 23-17 victory on Monday. Allen and Apke recorded no tackles on the day, even though they both played significant minutes.

As the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills traveled to Arizona for their game, kicker Robbie Gould of San Francisco stayed on his hot streak. He finished the game with one field goal from 45 yards out and three extra point conversions in a 34-24 loss to the Bills.

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Connor McGovern stepped up for the team in their 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Cowboys move to 3-9 on the year.

Notable players from Penn State who had a bye week come from NFC South teams. Wide receiver Chris Godwin for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got some needed rest, while the Carolina Panthers took the week off, giving rookie defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos a break from the action.

In an injury-riddled year, New York Jets kicker Sam Ficken stayed on the injured reserve with a groin injury. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offensive lineman AQ Shipley has been advised to end his career after a severe neck injury against the Los Angeles Rams.

 

Jonathan Draeger is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. You can contact him at jrd6052@psu.edu.